The one-story single-family home at the corner of Hollygrove Street and Earhart Boulevard caught fire shortly before 4 a.m., and was brought under control by 43 firefighters less than an hour later, according to our partners at WWL-TV. One firefighter injured his back but remained on duty.

No alcohol can be sold with meals at Ignatius, but owner Jerry Roppolo is seeking the city's permission to sell alcohol at another building he owns on Magazine, the current site of Rue de la Course. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)

The owner of the popular Rue de la Course coffeehouse on Magazine Street took a step closer Tuesday to being able to convert the location into a restaurant with alcohol sales, but said no immediate plans have been made for the location.

Jerry Roppolo, who owns Rue and its building, was poised earlier this year to get a liquor license for Ignatius Eatery up the street, but then withdrew after he was unable to reach an agreement with his landlord there. Based on a subsequent plan he presented this month to move Ignatius into Rue’s building, the City Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend Roppolo receive a conditional-use permit to sell alcohol in the building he owns, but Roppolo said any changes to either location are still a long way off.Continue reading »